London Borough of Sutton

I was looking at the London Borough of Sutton. Its a little further out than I wanted to live but what do you guys think about it? Is it nice? Is it a good place to raise kids? I see that they are calling themselves the greenest borough in London.

I have family that live in Sutton, and I've stayed with them when visiting London.  My impression is that it's a nice enough area- pretty suburban.  The Morden tube station isn't too far away and convenient for getting into London, and there's a mainline train station as well.

Yes, most of the Borough is green and pleasant.  I have friends in Carshalton, which has an extremely attractive olde worlde village centre (village green, duck pond, independent shops and a decent supermarket), all surrounded by 1930s/1950s suburbia.  The only downside is it's a bit of trek into London by slowish train - it's 30 mins with First Capital Connect (www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk), even though it's not that far.  However, this means it is relatively expensive for London.

any similar areas, green and nice for families, that can get you into London faster?

 I spent most of my life in Sutton and have seen some radical changes over the years. I don't know what age your children are but the Infant and Junior schools that I attended have long since been pulled down; which was a great shame - the infant school even had a little bell tower. Not sure about the Junior schools there now but there are some decent Senior schools.

The 'greenest' borough tag came about by the (then) radical Liberal Democrat local Council's environmental policy. I believe they were the first to implement house to house recycling schemes, gas powered offical vehicles (a few of them, anyway) and they even gave me a break (and an award) on the rent for the cafe I ran there with a chum (in Grove Park); because we were veggie/organic/wholefood recycling bunnies. Anyway, I think, just now, a lot of funding for certain schemes looks set to be taken away. Most of the people - green activists - who kind of steered the Council to their green agenda have moved on to, erm . . greener pastures.

The town of Sutton has doubled (that's being conservative) in size over the years and the small town feel has faded. Carshalton still has little enclaves where one can pretend to be in a village and so has Cheam (which boasts Nonsuch Park - the site of Henry V111's old pleasure palace and hunting grounds). House prices are, of course, way out of control and that isn't going to change anytime soon.

The night life is, unfortunately like most other towns and cities across the UK , geared-up for the 20 something market and their insatiable appetite for alcohol. There are two night clubs countless pubs and the High Street isn't a very salubrious place to be later in the night.

Having said that there is a large theatre (and one in Carshalton, too), various clubs and societies (inc. film/theatre/writing/rambling/folk clubs) and probably one of the best public Libraries (Sutton Central Library) in the country.

On the fast train from Sutton you can get into the City in about 20 mins to half an hour. Morden is the southern terminal of the Northern line (always bring reading matter when using this line); buses between the two towns (and everywhere else) are frequent.

I am typing this in Morden, at the moment (back to Bushey tonight) and this town - although very grubby-looking and run down when you are in the high street - has things going for it; some great parks - not far from Wimbledon, good schools and such (I think I am right in saying that it boasts one of the biggest Mosques in the country).

I guess that if one can't actually get to live in a real village then one must hunt for little enclaves where one can. I believe that the address for the coucil web site is : newcomer link: http://www.sutton.gov.org [nonactive] - or a variation of that anyway.

If I can think of anything else I'll add it later (should be working) - Sutton's okay, still but avoid Rose Hill like the plague.

I've been to Sutton once or twice before. Seems like a nice area. Before my sister got married she took the train everyday into London for work, from Cambridge. The way I look at it, a couple hours on the train is no worse than a couple hours in rush hour traffic to get too and from work. On the train at least you can relax, rather than get all mad at how poorly the people around you are driving. I don't even know if the commute was a concern for living so far out. Just thought I'd mention it.

Half an hour into London is pretty good.  Most places in the suburbs require a tube journey longer than that.

Vicky

Yes, most of the Borough is green and pleasant.  I have friends in Carshalton, which has an extremely attractive olde worlde village centre (village green, duck pond, independent shops and a decent supermarket), all surrounded by 1930s/1950s suburbia.  The only downside is it's a bit of trek into London by slowish train - it's 30 mins with First Capital Connect (www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk), even though it's not that far.  However, this means it is relatively expensive for London.

Oops - I meant to say that it is relatively INexpensive for London!

Half an hour into London is pretty good.  Most places in the suburbs require a tube journey longer than that.

Vicky

All the estimates I had seen so far were an hour or more. I wasn't aware of the fast train. How can I find more information on fast trains into London so I can know about more areas to explore?

That will be tricky.  You are better off picking an area then looking at www.nationalrail.co.uk to see if there are fast trains.  I can't see a way of putting in 'London' and seeing all the places 30 mins away, as there will be thousands.

Where in London will you need to commute to?

Vicky

thanks vicky (for your help on this and the other thread i started on this basic subject)! I'm taking hte map you linked on the other thread and taking a look. I'll be going into oxford circus.

I see that they are calling themselves the greenest borough in London.

Bromley, "The Green Borough"  is 15-20 min away from Victoria. There are also surrounding towns along that line too.